Influence of an indigenous yeast, CECA, from the Ningxia wine region of China, on the yeast community dynamics and aroma of Cabernet Sauvignon wines

Commercial yeasts are normally used in the wine industry to achieve stable and enhanced wine flavors and aromas, but they can lead to a loss of diversity and a peculiar regional wine style. An indigenous commercial wine yeast, CECA, has been isolated from a well-known wine-producing region, Ningxia, China. As CECA is a young commercial yeast, further research into its characteristics is required. In this study, the performance of CECA in Cabernet Sauvignon wine fermentation, three different fermentation treatments, spontaneous without inoculation, inoculated with CECA, and inoculated with CECA after treatment of the grape must with dimethyl dicarbonate, were performed. During fermentation, six species of yeast identified through a culture-dependent method were also identified with a culture-independent method, although the relative abundance differed between the methods. The floral and fruity were confirmed as characteristics of CECA-inoculated wines using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and sensory evaluation. This study enables winemakers to better understand an indigenous commercial yeast, make a peculiar aroma for Ningxia wines and promote the reputation of Ningxia region.